Library shelf arrangement



July 7, 1953 Filed NOV. 9, 1950 c. s. BROWN 2,644,588

LIBRARY SHELF ARRANGEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet l jnz/eni or Clifford jfirown It/M 06k;

y 7, 1953 c. 5. BROWN 2,644,588

LIBRARY SHELF ARRANGEMENT Filed Nov. 9, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 7,1953 c. 5. BROWN LIBRARY SHELF ARRANGEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov.9, 1950- Q frzvenfor' Clifford j Frown,

Filed NOV. 9, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fnverzj or" l dl l I I I I ||h| H HF H H .wwmw

July 7, 1953 c. 5; BROWN LIBRARY SHELF ARRANGEMENT Filed Nov. 9, 1950 A5 Sheets-Sheet 5 n fnuerzi or Q C lzfi ord j firown,

Patented July 7, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIBRARY SHELFARRANGEMENT Clifford S. Brown, Wauwatosa, Wis, assignor to HamiltonManufacturing Company," Two Rivers, Wis., a, corporation of WisconsinApplication November 9, 195.0, S rial. No- 194,8 8

3 Claims.

This invention relates to library sheli arrangements. and. is especiallyapplicable to libra y book stacks for large and busy libraries, andparticularly for archives and records.

Am ng other objects. the present invention aims to provide an,arrangement which will materially enhance the capacity of a givenlibrary space, while at the same time rendering the books or the likemore readily accessible, together with simplified provision for guardingsome of the books against unauthorized access. in certain inances.

In an important aspectl, the invention desires to provide a novel arrangm nt. o upr ght supports carryin longitudinally lidable shelves eachshelf being arranged to ca ry a TOW of books or the like transverselyacross its front and two longitudinal rows of books to. the rear of thefront row. invention makes a further contribution to. a compact stack,system in that ach shelf and track therefor may be sold a sembled. as aunit and r adil installed at a desired level on the stack uprigh Theseand other objects and advantages will be apparent from h i ll wine ripion, taken together with the ac mpanyi drawings. o illustrativeembodiments of the library shelf arrangements of the present invention,and in which drawings Figure 1 shows an elevational view taken from aside aisle, certain of said shelves indicating modifications forpreventing unauthorized access, this figure showing ls a se on floor f alibrary in cross-section and indicating how the supports tor the firstfl or sh lves. m y pp the flo r and the supports for the s c nd h mg;

Figure 2. is an enlarged front section l w taken. on. the staggered lineZ2 of Fig. 1., w th par s further broken. away for clearne s f soripton;

Figure 3. is a view on the scal of Fig. 2. s ins. in side elevation amult pl track or a s elf and being partly in. section hr u h the shel ason the line 33 of 2,; V

Figure 4 is a view somewha sim ar o i 3 but omitting the drawer and theauxiliary track and. showing the fixed track on its supports, therebeing here shown. a pair of such tracks, broken away to save space,arranged end. to end for a pair of shelves;

Figure 5 is a Plan view. partly in e t n through the suppor s. tak n onth line 54 of Fi 4.;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the shelves;

ure 7 is a. perspeotiy ie of a ux liary or slidahle tra k, b oken aw o.ave sr oe;

Figu 8 is a iraem ntary pe pec w of the iront end of a lockable drawercarrying also a front. cl sure;

Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-section of the front cl sure of Fig. 8;

Figure. 10 is a perspective view of one of the shelves showing thepreferred book arrangement with the books facing in three directions.

Figure 1 1 is a floor plan of a conventional library floor and bool;stack arrangement, which may be replaced by the arrangement or thepresut i vention;

Figure 12 is a view of the floor plan of Fig 11 with the conventionalbook stacks of Fig. 11 removed; and

Figure 13 is a floor plan of the library space of Fig. 11 adapted to.the shelf arrangement of the present invention.

A conventional library book; stack arrangement, with shelves arrangedwith their longer sides racing; the aisles, as Fig 11, is uneconomicaloi space and is lacking the means for guarding some of the books againstunauthorized access except by locking the entire floor or sectionsthereof. By means of the present invention, and as shown in Fig. 13, thesame amount of floor space as in Fig. 11 may have its capacitysubstantially doubled by eliminating half, of the. aisle space, while atthe same time permitting individual shelves or parts of shelves to bereleasably looked against access, as presently more particularlyreferred to.

Turning to Fig. 1, the numeral I! may indicate the floor Of a firstfloor library shelf arrangement embodying the present invention,including upright supports I? which may be suitably anchored (by wellknown means which need not be here described) to the floor l l and alsoto the ceiling I3 of the first floor shelf arrangement which may in turnconstitute the floorof a second floor library shelf arrangementcomprising another tier of supports l2.

The supports [2 occur adjacent the front ends of elongated slidableshelves (4, or 15, 01' I6 which are arranged vertically and in parallelon the supports [2 and are also carried by intermediate upright supportsI1, intermediate supports ll serving to carry the rear ends of a pair ofend to end aligned shelves. It will be understood that the shelves arealso arranged in parallel longitudinally and are longitudinally slidableon the supports, by means presently more particularly described, so thatthe shelves of a paircarried by the intermediate upright supports 11 maybe pulled out in opposite directions into the cross aisles l8 and iiirespectively, in one case, and into the transverse aisles 213 and I9 inan adjoining location. At the same time the longer sides of some of theshelves are accessible from a longitudinal aisle transverse to all ofthe cross aisles l8, l9 and 26.

Some of the shelves may be of the form shown by the numeral 14, othersof the form shown by the numeral and still others of the form shown bythe numeral H3. The shelf I5 however, as presently explained would notbe on a longitudinal aisle. In the caseof the shelf 14, the shelfdesirably, and as best seen in Fig. 6 m cludes a shelf plate 2| and bookabutments thereon for the novel arrangement of books as shown. Theseinclude book abutments '22 at each side of the shelf adjacent the frontend thereof disposed longitudinally thereof and a bookabutment 23 at therear end of the shelf and disposed transverselythereof. Parallel to theabutment 23 there may also be included a book abutment 24 disposedtransversely of the shelf adjacent and at the rear of the firstmentioned abutments 22 and spaced from the abutment 23 at the rear endof the shelf.

The various shelves, as here shown, may be formed of sheet metal and theshelf plate may have depending lugs 25 in which may be axled rollers 26for anti-friction purposes in the sliding movements of the shelves,there being preferably four such rollers for each shelf. At the front ofthe shelf may be formed a downturned lip 21 for strengthening purposes,and also which may serve as a handle for pulling out the shelf. Upturnedside edges 28 may prevent book slippage and also stiffen the shelf. Thiscon struction provides a shelf plate occupying desirably a minimum ofdistance vertically.

As best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, upright supports l2 carry one of thetracks for each shelf, at the forward end of the shelfpand an uprightsupport I! carries the tracks for two aligned shelves end to end. Thesupports |2 are conveniently formed of channel iron material havingoutwardly flaring flanges |2a which are lapped and suitably weldedtogether to form a hollow element box-like in cross-section constitutingthe support. Similarly the supports I! have lapped and welded flangesFla.

The fixed tracks shown in Figs. 4 and 5 are .fixed in the sense thatthey do not move during ordinary operation of the shelves, but, forpurposes of assembly and readjustment when desired, the fixed track 29has a bracket 30 welded .as at 3| to the vertical wall 29a of the track.

The bracket 36 includes a plurality, in this in stance three verticallyspaced hooks or gibs 32 which are received in vertically spaced andaligned slots 33 in the transverse wall 34 of the upright support l2. Atthe rear of'the track 29, .a similar bracket 35, welded as at 35a,carries a plurality of laterally projecting hooks or gibs 36 whichengage in vertically spaced and aligned slots 3! in the side walls 38 ofthe vertical rows in each of the similar walls of supports IT. The slots33 and 31 are of a size just sufficient to receive the gibs 32 and 36respectively and the track is then dropped down so that the noses 39 ofthe gibs take over the lower edges of the slots to interlock the trackand support.

Each fixed track 29 includes an overhanging upper wall 46 (Fig. 2) whichextends laterally toward the shelf and terminates in a downturned flange4|. Along its lower edge each fixed track 29 includes an underslunglower wall 42 which terminates in an upturned flange 43. While the upperwall 46 extends throughout the length of track 29, the lower wall 42stops short of the forward end thereof. Here the side wall 29a iscontinued downwardly as at 44 to have axled therein at 45 a wheel 45a.It is to be understood that the fixed tracks 25 are arranged in pairs.each to receive a shelf thereon and are reciprocally formed toconstitute such pairs respectively.

The sliding track 46 has a side wall 46a which laps the side wall 29a ofthe fixed track but is of less vertical height so that'the sliding track46 telescopes within the fixed track to slide forwardly and rearwardlytherein. Along its lower edge the sliding track 46 has a lower wall 41which terminates in an upturned flange 48. The lower wall 41 of thesliding track is of less width than the lower wall 42 of the fixed trackso that the flange 48 of the'slidirig track is retained by the flange 43of the fixed track. At its forward end the sliding track lower wall 41rides on the wheel 45a of the fixed track. At its rear end, the sidewall 46a of the sliding track is extended rearwardly as at 45 and hasaxled therein as at 56 a wheel 5|, which is of a diameter larger thanthe vertical height of the sliding track 46 andof a size to ride on thelower wall 42 of the fixed track 49 while 'at the .same time engagingthe upper wall 46 of the fixed track.

Along its upper edge the sliding track 46 has a laterally extendingupper wall 52 which terminates in a downwardly extending flange 53.

This upper wall and flange terminates short of the forward end of thesliding track 46leavin'g an opening 54 to receive the rollers 26 of theshelf I4. Also, at its vertical forward end, the sliding track 46 has afront wall 55 and a flange 56 in the plane of the flange 48. Parts 55,56 form a stop for the forward roller 26 of the shelf l4. Similarly, atits rear end, the sliding track 46 has stops 5! for the rearward rollers26. It'will be understood that the tracks 46 are also formedreciprocally and arranged in pairs respectively for each shelf and eachpair of fixed tracks. r

When a shelf is assembled with its sliding track the shelf is cantedupwardly at itsfore ward end to permit its rear. pair of rollers 26to beinserted in the opening 54 in a pair' ofslid ing tracks. The shelf isthen moved rearwardly on the sliding track until the intermediatepair ofrollers 26 can be inserted through the opening 54 into the slidingtrack. Thereupon the shelf l4 may be slid rearwardly and forwardly onthe sliding track within the. limits of the stops 55 and 51 of thesliding track.

Next, the wheels 5| of the sliding track are located within the flangesof the fixed track 29, and the sliding track, with the shelf thereon,moved rearwardly on the fixed tracks, the lower wall of the slidingtrack being suDOprted on and moving relatively to the wheels 45a'attheforward edges of the fixed tracks. 7

When the shelf is pulled forwardly it will move to the forward end ofthesliding track, without movement of the latter, until the forwardrollers .26 meet the stops 55 atthe. forward end or the sliding tracks,whereuponlthe shelf and sliding the sliding tracks will underlieapproximately one-half of the length of the shelf, to support the latterwhile the shelf itself hangs sufficiently withdrawn (1. e.., forexample: full length as seen in Fig... 1) from between the up i ht sup rt permit access to the books or the. like arranged not only transverselyalong the front of-the. shelf as at 538 but also arranged in two rowslongitudinally' thereof as at 59. and as (Fig.

It will be understood that the row of books 53 arran ed transversely onthe shelf along the front thereof are retained by the longitudinallyextending abutments 22 of the shelf and if desired 'by the transverseabutment: 24 at the rear end of the longitudinally extending abutments22. Thus the. abutments 22Z 4-22 form a partial enclosure for the bookstherein, which may be arranged with their backs facing forwardly as iscustomary, so that the titles on the backs of the books of the fronttransverse row may be read by the users of the library. The two parallelrows of bcoks59 and 60 are arranged in rows longitudinally of the shelfwith their title carrying backs facing laterally outwardly, and areretained by the abutment 23 at the rear end of the shelf. At the forwardend they are retained either by the abutment 24, or, where that isomitted, by the front row of books 58 and the rear edges of abutments22. The books arranged transversely of the shelf between the abutments22 may be books which are more frequently referred to so that they maybe removed, from the shelf Without. sliding the shelves forwardly, whilethe books arranged longitudinally in rows 59 and 60 may be books whichare less frequently referred to, but to which access may be readily hadby sliding the parts forwardly on their tracks as already described.

Where it is desired to guard all of the books on a given shelf againstunauthorized access, a shelf such as indicated at I5 may be employed.Here, as best seen in Fig. 8, the abutments 22 and 24 of the shelf M areeliminated, and the shelf I5 is boxed by a, front permanent closure 6|.The shelf l5 may carry locking means of any suitable character indicatedsomewhat diagrammatically at 62, by which look bars 53 may be actuatedto engage suitable locking recesses in the adjacent upright supports H2.The lock bars 63 may be actuated, through the mechanism 52, by means ofa key (not shown) engageable with a key cylinder 84, of, say, therotatable cam type, at the lower front edge of the drawer [5.

In order to accommodate various adjusted distances between shelves, byvertical adjustments of the fixed tracks on the uprights as alreadydescribed, the front closure 6! of the drawer [5 may have a verticallyadjustable extension 65 which may slide in grooves 56 formed by bendinginwardly the vertical side margins of the closure 6|. The closure 6!, asbest seen in Fig. 9 may have welded thereto on its rear face a stud -61which may play in a vertical slot 68 in the extension 55. A lock nut 69screwed on the stud 6! may be loosened or tighted to fix the verticaladjustment of the extension 65. This adjustment means is thusinaccessible except when the drawer I5 is unlocked and slid forwardly.

The books on the shelf l5 may all be arranged in two parallellongitudinally extending rows with. their titiewarrying: backs facing; opositely and laterally outward, arrdwhen: the drawer i5 is; lockediin.position. all of: the booksthereon. are rendered: inacc ssible, since;such av shelf would normally located. between; Othen parallel. con.-ie-lions.v shelves. for: example... as. shown a "1. (Fig. l.3:); and;thus: the books. could not: be reached without; slidin the sh lf t5.forwardly.

A. shelf; such as; indicated at I16- nusht.be-..e1nnl' yed that: wouldhave lo kin -means: 191 (Fig:- similar to, the; lockingmeans- 64: f: shlf- 15 but which would otherwisebe. like shelf it. ex ep that the abutmnt. "H. Off the. shelf 6 would; take the n ace oithe; abutm nt 24. ofthe she f I4. an would be extendedto. a reater hei h Thus with. theshelf: t6, the. hooks arran ed. transverse he alone. e fr nt. dg zofthe. shel would; no be; concealed. or locked. fr m access. but; the.shelf itself. could. be locked. so that it could; not e'sl forwardly togive access to he hooks arran d longitudinal y at the r arof; the shelfWhere all he ooks..- ar intended to be r e accessible it will beunderstood thatv some or the shelyes will face two intersecting: aisl snd; thus the boo-ks arranged thereon both; transver ely andlongitudinally will be. accessible without sliding the shelv s:forwardly- Referrin a a n. to Fig. 1.1, th s shows. a conv n tionallibrary arran emen comprising pri h T2 and shelves 1-3; arranged with,their longer sides facing forwar ly. The rr n m nt shown in Fig. 11could e converted to the arrang m of: the. present invention by r movint e h lve 1?. while. leaving: th upr ghts .2 n pos n. a shown in Fig.1.2. The. uprights 2. may s p rt an upper floor level to, whichaccessmightbe had by the. stairs 1.4. Additional uprightsuppor s. l2 andll, of. the, present disclosure, could then be arranged interspersedwith the. original uprights 12;, as shown in Fig. 13, having shelves. ofthe present invention supported thereby. This ar rangement eliminatesapproximately half of the aisle space which is necessary in aconventional library stack arrangement of Fig. 11 and providesa compactstack system of the present invention thus substantially doubling thecapacity of the same given library fioor space.

If desired, the abutment H of the shelf l6 may be extensiblyconstructed, as shown, for example, with respect to the extensibleclosure 6| for the shelf l5.

Each of the shelves may be sold assembled as a unit with a pair of fixedtracks 29 and a pair of auxiliary tracks 46, thus facilitating handlingand installation.

So constructed and arranged a maximum amount of the vertical space inthe stack may be utilized for books and records, waste space may beminimized, and flexibility promoted.

It is to be understood that the term books and the like includes manydifferent kinds of records or reading material, whether loose, bound orin special containers.

The invention is not intended to be limited to details of constructionshown for purposes of exemplification. Furthermore, it is not essentialin every case that all features of the invention be used conjointlysince various combinations and sub-combinations may at times beadvantageously employed. Such changes may be made as fall within thescope of the appended claims Without departing from the invention.

See also my co-pending application Serial No. 324,531, filed December 6,1952.

The invention having been here described. what is here claimed is: v

1. In a library shelf arrangement including a plurality of uprightsupports and shelf supporting means carried by and between the supports,the combination, with extension tracks slidable on the shelf supportingmeans, of an elongated shelf slidable longitudinally on said extensiontracks, said shelf being longer from front to rear than it is wide andopen at the front thereof, the width of the shelf being substantiallyequal to the depth of two normal rows of books, a relatively short bookabutment disposed longitudinally of the shelf at each side thereofadjacent the front end of the shelf, a forward transverse book abutmentdisposed adjacent and at the rear of the first mentioned abutments andspaced from the rear end of the shelf whereby the front end of the shelfprovides a compartment for holding books in a transverse row across thefront of the shelf between said longitudinal abutments with theirtitlecarrying backs facing forwardly and accessible without withdrawingthe shelffrom between said supports, and a transverse book abutment atthe rear end of the shelf spaced from said forward transverse abutmentwhereby the portion of the shelf between said transverse abutmentsprovides a rear compartment for holdin books in two rows longitudinallyof the shelf with the backs of the books of the longitudinal rows facingoppositely and laterally outwardly of the shelf, the shelf between saidtransverse abutments being substantially unobstructed at its sides tofacilitate lateral withdrawal of books from said rear compartment, andmeans for causing the extension tracks to move partially forwardly withthe shelf and with respect to the supports as the shelf is withdrawnfrom between the supports, whereby the books of said longitudinal rowsare accessible and their titles read- 8 able from opposite lateral sidesof the shelf respectively when the shelf is withdrawn from between saidsupports, the shelf at such time being intermediately supported by saidextension tracks. I

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein means are included for releasablylocking the shelf to prevent movement thereof from between the supports, whereby unauthorized access to the books in said longitudinalrows is prevented while access to the books in said front compartment isunobstructed.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the forward abutment is formed inoverlapping sections one of which is vertically movable with respect tothe other and wherein means are provided for locking the sections invertically: extended relation, the last mentioned locking means beinginaccessible when the shelf is locked by the first mentioned lockingmeans.

CLIFFORD S. BROWN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date D. 161,333 Gooken Dec. 26, 1950 252,394 Moon Jan. 17, 18821,312,133 Pickford Aug. 5, 1919 1,466,335 Gleason Aug. 28, 19231,576,420 Folts Mar. 9, 1926 1,639,387 Sweard Aug. 16, 1927 1,734,993Best et al Nov. 12, 1929 2,100,992 Woodhead et al. Nov. 30, 19372,104,913 Streeter Jan. 11, 1938 2,157,611 Jones et al. May 9, 1939FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 752,058 France July 3,1933

